Chapter 16: XV
When Issei had sufficiently recovered, they talked about why she had manipulated Koneko. Akeno fully accepted responsibility for her actions, and Issei didn't try to negate her accountability or reduce its disgrace.
Instead, he sentenced her to a spanking before bed and sent her off to confess her transgressions to Koneko. She also had to invite her to witness the punishment that evening. The second part had completely caught her off-guard.
"You promised you wouldn't share anything from our sessions with anyone else!" she had pleaded.
He had fixed her with a mischievous smile. 'Loophole. I didn't promise that you wouldn't. And you promised to obey my every order.'
After all, he reasoned with her, "She is really the one you most hurt. She trusted you, respected you, and you used that against her. She has a right to know. You'll never be free from your guilt, until she forgives you. She may not… but at least do your part."
With a deep breath, she knocked on Koneko's door wondering if Issei were even more devious than she.
"Come in." Koneko's voice rang out softly from inside the room.
Akeno opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it behind her.
"Oh, Akeno-senpai!" Koneko back in human form smiled at her senior.
She was standing at her closet in a long white t-shirt picking out her outfit for the next day.
Koneko really looked up to Akeno. Akeno always seemed so together, so elegant and graceful and beautiful too. A perfect lady in the presence of important people. She was powerful in battle, Rias-sama's queen, but she had also always been gentle and kind to Koneko. She was the only one of the girls that Koneko thought she could really talk to. She looked up to Rias-sama too, but Rias was so protective that Koneko was afraid to share too much with her.
"Getting ready for bed already, Koneko-chan?" Akeno asked surprised.
Koneko nodded.
"But it's barely passed eight thirty!" Akeno pointed out.
Koneko closed the door to her closet, blushing a little.
"I've…I've had an eventful day." She remarked trying to make it sound like no big deal.
"So I heard." Akeno acknowledged to Koneko's utter humiliation.
Koneko's cheeks colored brightly; she stared at the floor stealing glances at Akeno trying unsuccessfully to read her.
"That's actually why I'm here." Akeno began. "If you're not busy, may I speak with you about it?"
Koneko slumped. Not only did I embarrass myself in front of Rias-sama and Issei-sama… then I got punished, and I bet everyone heard it… at least Akeno-senpai did… now, I'll get scolded too by the one person who didn't treat me like a kid. Today is the worst!
"Of course, I'm never too busy for you, senpai." She quietly acquiesced.
Akeno smiled warmly. "Why don't we sit together on your bed, this might be a few minutes."
Koneko nodded her agreement and hopped up on her bed side near her pillow, her legs dangling off the edge. She folded her hands in her lap and stared at her feet sadly prepared to be scolded.
Akeno swept over to the bed and seated herself beside Koneko with her usual grace. She surveyed her junior; she looked so forlorn and vulnerable. She could see from Koneko's almost cowering position that she was expecting to be berated for what she had done to Rias and Issei. Poor thing. You have no idea but everything you suffered today is because of me…
Akeno slipped an arm around Koneko's sagging shoulders and drew her close to her side. Koneko gratefully snuggled up to her friend.
"Let's get some things out of the way first." Akeno began.
Koneko winced. Here it comes…
"Firstly, yes, I know what happened this morning between you and Rias-sama and Issei."
Koneko nodded.
"Secondly, I know, that you already know what you did was wrong, and that you were punished for it."
Koneko blushed more deeply and nodded again against Akeno.
"So… because I know that, and you know that. I'm not here to scold you. You don't need to be told off or punished any further. You've suffered quite enough for one day."
Koneko looked up surprised and grateful. This is why I love Akeno-senpai. She always knows what to say and do. I hope I can be like her someday.
"Thank you, senpai. I really am sorry for what I did. And I… I don't feel bad about being punished either. I just really hope Issei-sama and Rias-sama can forgive me."
Akeno stroked Koneko's hair softly smiling warmly. This is the last time I'll get to be her onee-sama probably… she thought. Might as well make the most of it.
"You know Issei forgave you already she reminded her."
Koneko nodded. "He said he did."
Akeno understood the unspoken part of that thought, but were those just words? "You can trust Issei." She answered. "He's strong, and forgiving, and he wants what's best for you. And for me and Rias-sama… and all of us."
Koneko stared at her senior with wide eyes. Didn't she tell me yesterday that Issei was a danger to Rias-sama? That he was only interested in her body, and he wouldn't be interested in me because I don't have the body-type he likes? Didn't she say I shouldn't trust him? What changed? This is too drastic. Something's happened…
"Can I ask you something… it's a bit personal… and maybe a little embarrassing?" Akeno asked.
Koneko cocked her head to the side curiously, then nodded.
"What do you think of Issei?"
Koneko's eyes narrowed. Her eyes darted around the room as if the walls had ears. She looked really seriously at Akeno. "I…I'm not allowed to say!"
Akeno stared at Koneko with wide eyes. "Hold on." She said guessing the issue. She held her hand in front of her and closed her eyes mouthing arcane words. There was a flash and something like a bubble expanded rapidly from the center of the room. She nodded and turned to Koneko. "There, now nobody can—"
Koneko's giggling cut her off mid-sentence.
"What—why are you…?" Akeno's eyebrows furrowed causing Koneko to laugh even harder. Suddenly, it clicked. Akeno clapped a hand to her mouth in surprise. "Was…was that a joke?" She laughed musically behind her hand as Koneko nodded still giggling. "I—you're always so serious! I don't think I've ever heard you tell a joke before!"
Koneko pouted a playfully. "I have a sense of humor too!"
Akeno shook her head an amused smile playing across her lips.
"I have nothing bad to say about Issei-sama."
Akeno was surprised to hear Koneko refer to Issei with such respect, but didn't call her on it.
"I should have trusted him." Koneko explained. "Not…not that I don't respect your opinion!" She quickly clarified. "It's just that, well after we talked, I was really scared for Rias. She's falling hard for him. If he wanted to hurt her, there'd be no stopping him. Rias won't believe a bad word about him. I was pretty worried about the other thing you pointed out too… that he'd have no reason to take me with him…" She looked up at Akeno suspiciously. "Why didn't we realize Rias would never let him leave me behind?"
I don't want to accuse her…but it's strange. Akeno was the one who warned me about what might happen. She's always so sure of herself and almost never turns out to be wrong; she's good at reading people. I was so scared for Rias and for myself that I never really considered that she might be wrong. She was so wrong…
Akeno sighed. "Koneko-chan, look at me." She requested softly.
Koneko obeyed locking eyes with her.
"I…I have to tell you something. Something I'm deeply ashamed of. Something I would have done almost anything to avoid telling you, but I have no choice." She sighed deeply. "I don't expect you to forgive me." She warned up front.
Koneko was taken aback. "W-whatever it is, senpai, it can't be that bad. Don't worry; we'll always be friends." She assured her.
Akeno smiled at the Koneko's innocence. "I don't think you should promise that just yet…let me explain."
It's strange. I don't feel the urge to make excuses for myself or lie or blame this on someone else. I could convince Koneko that it isn't my fault things turned out this way… but she deserves to know. Issei is the one she can count on… not me.
"You remember our conversation yesterday regarding Issei and Rias?" She asked as a lead-in.
"Y-yes." Koneko choked out. Of course I do; it's what led to all of this!
"I was wrong, Koneko-chan. About everything. Issei never meant any harm to Rias-sama. Sure he might be a little perverted; all guys get excited by a sexy feminine body, but it's not the only thing he cares about."
Koneko listened silently.
"He cares about us, Koneko-chan. Really. Forget everything I suggested to you yesterday. None of it is true."
Her words floated musically through the air softly and quietly. Her tone was graceful and elegant as always, but it sounded like a cacophony of broken thoughts to Koneko.
"What do you mean, forget it?" Koneko asked suddenly. "None of it was true?" Her temper rose causing her words to flow more brazenly. "Oh, just pretend we never had that conversation! Whoops, sorry I made you betray your friends!"
Akeno didn't shrink away from Koneko's anger. She didn't scold her for her disrespect. She simply accepted it as a just reaction.
"Were those all just guesses? You didn't have any real evidence to base it on?" Koneko asked disbelief coloring her tone. I guess I've sort of gone beyond accusing her now… but if I don't press her… she might not tell me.
"I did have reason to believe some of the things I told you. Some was conjecture. Some maybe a little hyperbole." Akeno admitted. "But I'm quite sure now that everything I told you yesterday was false."
"Why…?" Koneko asked desolately. "Why couldn't you have made sure of everything before you made me believe I had to save Rias-sama and myself too from Issei-sama?"
"I'm sorry, Koneko." Akeno whispered.
"Sorry…" Koneko repeated. "Do you know what I went through today?"
Akeno nodded.
"Do you really?" Koneko asked again as her anger increased.
"Yes," Akeno confirmed. "One of the reasons I'm here… is because I have to tell you… tell you that I was watching you."
"Watching me?" Koneko asked aghast. "What does that mean?"
"Well…" Akeno blushed. "When Issei first went to talk to you about being respectful to him and not calling him names. I wanted to make sure you were okay so….."
Koneko eyes widened in horror. "You watched our conversation with a spell!"
Akeno nodded ashamed. "I didn't mean to invade your privacy, honestly! I just wanted to make sure everything was okay. But when things got… interesting (Koneko flushed), I couldn't look away."
"You… you watched that…that whole thing?" Koneko demanded in a voice squeaky with disbelief.
"Yes." Akeno confirmed.
Koneko turned beet red. "And… today, this morning…?" Koneko pleaded with her to deny it.
Akeno's eyes flooded with shame as she nodded once.
Koneko's humiliation overrode her anger. One of the most embarrassing moments in my whole life… and she…she watched. She saw everything. I can't even look at her. I'm so embarrassed! She curled her fingers up in the hem of her shirt rolling and unrolling it in her fingers.
"I'm sorry." Akeno offered. "I…I knew it was private, but I kept watching. Something came over me… and I couldn't stop. It's no excuse. But it is the truth."
Koneko didn't look up. She just shook her head in the silence.
"It's a little worse…" Akeno admitted trying to get it all out before she lost her nerve or Koneko kicked her out.
Koneko gulped. What could possibly be worse?
"The conversation you had with Issei… the one before we talked?"
"You were watching that whole conversation too?" Koneko guessed her tone flat and emotionless.
Akeno nodded again. "Everything we talked about, I already knew about it. I heard Issei talk about it.
"Why couldn't you see he was sincere?" Koneko asked shrilly. "You're always so good at reading people. I did so much damage this morning to people I really care about! And it was all based on your assessment of our conversation!"
"I'm sorry." Akeno apologized again.
"I know it's all you can say…" Koneko told her. "But your apologies can't fix my betrayal."
"I-I know. And you have every right to be angry."
"What good will it do me?" Koneko asked sharply. "You want to know how I feel about Issei-sama? I was a brat! An ignorant little kid who tried to make him feel bad about himself without knowing anything really. And Issei-sama…" She shook her head. "He tried to explain to me, and I didn't listen! When he punished me, I deserved every bit of it!"
Akeno's gaze was frozen on Koneko's heated description.
"But afterwards…" She quieted. "Afterwards he didn't stay mad at me. He held me and consoled me and forgave me. I never expected that. And I didn't know what to think. So the next day I decided I better try to be polite, or he'll spank me again. So I did. And he was nice to me too. He even gave me his omelet and waited for another one to be made! I thought maybe he wasn't so bad… but then later on, he accidentally walked in on Rias-sama in the bathroom… and I couldn't stop myself from insulting him again. I knew he heard me. I ran back to my room and waited for him to hurt me."
Koneko had been desperate to tell someone, anyone all the emotions and thoughts that had been bottled up inside her. Akeno had unwittingly opened the bottle loosing everything. The words poured out of her. She couldn't stop.
"When Issei-sama came to my room, I was terrified. I knew what was coming! As soon as he came in, I begged him. I mean really, literally on my knees pleaded with him to accept my apology…" She paused remembering the moment. "He called my name. Softly. And I thought it would be followed with scolding or with an order to get ready for punishment… but no. Instead… when I was hysterical and scared, I suddenly felt his arms on my shoulders… around me. His warm, strong arms were holding me gently again… I think he cried with me…" She remembered aloud.
Akeno was staring entranced by Koneko's words.
Koneko didn't quite understand what she was seeing, but it looks like she's longing for something… is she jealous of what happened between me and Issei-sama? She decided to continue.
"Instead of punishing me, he told me he didn't want me to be scared of him. He wanted to explain why my insults hurt him so much. I called him names, and he responded with gentleness and understanding. He shared a part of himself with me… so I could understand him. That was precious to me. He showed me mercy that time. We were good for a while. Until… until you and I talked, and I was so afraid that maybe he was tricking me! Maybe my foolishness would hurt Rias-sama! Maybe he would steal her away from me without me even realizing it! And if she left me, where would I go? Nobody would accept me…"
Koneko met Akeno's gaze now. From Akeno's point of view it was so powerful, so mesmerizing, even though she felt guilty she couldn't look away.
"So I recklessly tried to destroy him. I told Rias-sama every bad thing I could think of. I told her all the things you warned me about him too. But she didn't listen. She already knew what I do now. That Issei-sama isn't that kind of person. She refused to even hear my slander. The more I tried to make him look bad, the madder she got. I must have looked like such a childish fool to her…"
Koneko hung her head threatening tears. Even now, when I think about what I did, what I tried to do… I'm so ashamed. Even though he forgave me. I guess only time will soften the guilt.
Her words were low barely above a mumble as she stared at the floor, but they sounded like a bugle in Akeno's ears.
"I took that gift he gave me, that peace offering, and I turned it into a weapon. A powerless one, because it didn't work on Rias-sama; she didn't believe it. But it nearly destroyed my and Issei-sama's friendship. He was there! I don't know how much of that conversation he was there for… but he definitely heard the worst part; the part where I told her his secret! I can still see that awful hurt, betrayed look in his eyes. I can still hear him say, 'Ohayo gozaimasu, Koneko-…chan.' Like I stabbed him in the back… well I did, I guess." She admitted. "And after that he still didn't try to get revenge on me. He didn't try to tell Rias-sama that I was lying. And he didn't tell her what I did to him…"
Koneko took a few minutes to recover from the emotional rollercoaster retelling the story had put her through.
"I…I felt so guilty. Eventually, I went and asked him to…"
"To spank you." Akeno inserted helpfully.
Koneko blushed a little. "Yeah. And he could've thrown me out. He could've laughed in my face. He could've told me that I wasn't worth his time, or that he didn't think I could be good…but he didn't. He accepted my request. He…" She shuddered remembering the awful pain. "He s-spanked me really, really hard! It hurt so much!" She rubbed her rear which seemed to throb just from her memories. And then like an idiot, I lied to him… but not a hurtful lie! But still…and then I got spanked again! Ugh… Nothing has ever hurt so badly as that… but again… when it was over he held me. He hugged me, and then something crazy happened…"
Koneko looked up to Akeno again.
"He started crying. Hard… a lot. And at first I didn't know why. I thought maybe I did something to upset him or…or something. But he finally explained, 'It hurts to hurt you…because I love you.'"
Akeno's eyes widened. Disbelief and jealousy flashed across her face and vanished.
"He cried for me, Akeno-senpai! For me! I meant so much to him that when I betrayed him, and he had to punish me, and then I lied to him, and he punished me again… He understood how much pain I was in, and it made him cry!"
Koneko's eyes blazed. "That's the kind of man Issei-sama is. He taught me what respect is; he taught me what family is; and he showed me what love is… I just pray that I can behave so I won't disappoint him again."
For several minutes, neither of them said anything.
Koneko felt a weight lift off her by sharing all of that with someone finally. If I can convince Akeno-senpai that Issei-sama is good, maybe that will partly make up for what I did too…she hoped.
Eventually, Koneko remembered why she had shared her story. Akeno just said everything she told me was wrong… right? And then she told me she was spying on me. Oh! Right… that's why I was able to tell her the whole story, because she already kinda knew a lot of it. Why did she even tell me that?
"Why did you even tell me all this? Did it make you feel better?" she asked wondering if Issei had thought the same of her that very morning.
"No. I didn't want to tell you. Well part of me did, but that part wouldn't have won out." She explained honestly. "No. I'm telling you this because it's part of my punishment. Like I mentioned earlier, 'I have no choice.'"
Akeno's words cut through the haze of anger and confusion enveloping Koneko.
"Part of your punishment?" she asked in such a shocked voice that Akeno almost laughed.
"Yes. I'm being punished." She explained. "And Issei said as part of it, I had to confess what I did to you. He said you deserved to know."
Once again, Issei-sama is on my side. Koneko thought. I never should have listened to Akeno. I should have trusted Issei-sama, like he trusted me. I'm such an idiot!
"Wait what do you mean part of your punishment?" Koneko asked eyebrows raised. "What's the other part?"
"Th-that's private!" Akeno chided.
Koneko rolled her eyes. "You can't be serious." she retorted incredulously.
Akeno realized how feeble a defense that was in light of just revealing that she had spied on Koneko's punishments. "Okay, okay… well…" She blushed. "He…he spanked me…"
Koneko's mouth fell open. She quickly recovered. Right… nice try. She laughed at the ridiculousness of the lie. "Yea, right." She rolled her eyes. "If you want to get sympathy at least make it believable."
"I'm serious!" Akeno nearly shouted getting a little angry.
"Show me then!" Koneko dared her confident in her assertion. No evidence to show, huh?
Akeno huffed, stood up and walked to the center of the room.
Bye, Akeno-senpai… Koneko thought.
To her utter surprise, Akeno's hands dipped gracefully under her skirt and drew her panties down to her knees. Then with a quick swipe she lifted her skirt and held it flat against her back.
Deep crimson blotches lined Akeno's backside from her creamy thighs all the way up her curvy rear. The marks appeared fresh…and quite tender.
In shock, Koneko exclaimed, "B-but…you're older than Issei-sama!"
Akeno flushed. "Well… that didn't seem to matter to Issei. It's more… he's strong and mature and trustworthy enough that I choose to recognize his authority over me, and submit to it," She awkwardly tried to explain.
Koneko shook her head not believing her eyes or her ears.
"You're Rias-sama's queen; you're a college student…you're older… you outrank him in every possible way! How did he get the nerve to…? No…why did you let him? You could have blasted him away from you with barely a thought!"
Akeno sighed. "Issei… can be very convincing." She began and paused a few moments trying to explain. "How did you not only allow…but ask him to punish you?" She paused a moment to let Koneko consider the question. "It's the same… you recognized that he cares about you, and you trust him to be fair, and you trust that he wouldn't punish you if you didn't deserve it…Initially, I went to him to ask him to punish me for some private issues I was having… well I thought it would help me seduce him too, but Issei only agreed with the conditions that I had to be one hundred percent honest with him and obey his orders without question during our session."
Koneko blinked several times silently. "You… asked Issei to punish you?" She asked. "But since it was a favor, he forced you to agree to be honest and obedient to whatever he asked of you…"
"Yes," Akeno answered. "My conditions in return were that he wouldn't tell anyone about it, and that he wouldn't push me beyond what he thought I could bear."
"He broke the condition," Koneko pointed out. "He made you tell me."
Akeno smiled at her naivety. "No, don't you see?" She asked amused. "I made him promise that he wouldn't tell anyone. He didn't. He forced me to agree to obey any punishment he gave me. Then as punishment for spying on you two, he spanked me… and ordered me to tell you."
Koneko giggled. "He tricked you."
"He did. He would probably say it was a taste of my own medicine…, but he didn't actually tell anyone, I did, and I couldn't refuse because I already promised to obey any punishment… and so… here I am."
Clever, Issei-sama. Koneko thought. You beat her at her own game. Doesn't feel good does it? She smiled smugly.
"You're not cute when you gloat." Akeno pointed out annoyed.
Koneko smirked. "At least I'm not a pervert." She shot back. "Secretly watching other people's…private moments!"
Akeno's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Careful, my dear Koneko. I'm your senior too, and we both know you know the consequences of disrespect." She let her skirt fall back into place as she turned to face her.
Koneko squeaked in surprise at the threat, but faced the older girl down audaciously. You have no right to punish me! She covered her bottom protectively with her hands watching Akeno nervously.
"Oh, but Issei does?" Akeno asked irritated.
"Yes! Onii-sama has proven himself to be trustworthy, fair, and kind!" she returned defiantly.
"But not me," Akeno accused coldly. "Make a mistake, and suddenly, I'm not worthy like your 'Onii-sama'? That's quite the change of heart."
"It's…no, that isn't what I mean…" Koneko tried to explain. "It's different with Issei-sama; it's like you said, I can feel and respect his authority over me… in a different way than everyone else…"
Akeno giggled melodiously. "I'm just kidding!"
Koneko's sigh of relief quickly turned to anger. "That's not funny! You wouldn't even know about that if you hadn't—!"
"Spied on you. Right, well as you saw I did… and was already punished for it. Maybe you can let that one go?"
"Hm. Well it looks like it was pretty bad…" Koneko sympathized.
"Issei is very…thorough." Akeno gulped as a memory of the belt biting into her flesh flashed through her mind.
Koneko agreed.
"Alright, if Issei-sama thinks you've been punished enough, I guess I have no right to say otherwise. After all, you spied on him too."
Akeno sneered mildly at her little jab.
"Sorry." Koneko apologized realizing perhaps she was pushing this a little too far. "I forgive you for spying on us, Akeno-senpai. It's embarrassing…but at least you didn't blab to everyone else."
Akeno tapped her fingertips together anxiously not making eye contact.
"Who did you tell!?" Koneko demanded.
"R-rias-sama has a right to know! You're her charge!" Akeno explained desperately.
"Oh no…" Koneko whined resting her head in her hands.
"She was worried about you! She knew I went to check up on you and Issei. If I never reported back, she would have known something was going on!" Akeno hurried to defend herself.
Koneko's cheeks burned red. "She sent you to spy on us? No way I'd believe that!"
"Of course not." Akeno agreed quietly. "She only was aware that when Issei went to go talk to you the first time, I followed him to try to calm him down. She never intended for me to…um…spy…on you."
Everyone knows… everyone. Koneko realized in dismay. Goosebumps appeared on her arms as it occurred to her that the only two people she that she wanted to think of her as a grown adult were aware that she'd been spanked like a naughty child. Her lips curved downward, and her eyes turned watery as she hung her head.
"I-I'm sorry…Koneko-chan…" Akeno miserably apologized. "I knew you would be embarrassed, but I…I didn't think you would be this upset…"
"Everyone knows…" Koneko whispered. Her shoulders slumped. "Rias-sama… You… the only two people I wanted to respect me. I'm just a child to you both. It's humiliating."
"If…if it helps any… Issei said I was a naughty girl and deserved a spanking too…" Akeno gently offered her cheeks lighting up in soft pink. "And… and he did spank me too. Someone… someone who's much older than you…"
She should be as humiliated as me… maybe more because she's older. Nobody in our house would question her authority, she's a grown woman too. Why is she so… calm about it?
As if reading her mind, Akeno explained, "It's… it's not that it's not embarrassing for me too. It is. And if anyone found out—about me I mean—I'd be humiliated. That's why I made Issei promise not to tell anyone. On the other hand, it's sort of… nice. Isn't it?"
"Nice…?" Koneko inquired in disbelief.
The older girl nodded. "To know that someone cares about you enough to set you straight… to teach you… and guide you. Instead of just letting you go on making a fool of yourself because it's not their business, or they're afraid to upset you. It took a lot more strength for Issei to punish us than it would have to just let it go."
Koneko considered this for a few moments. She's right. It would've been easy to just let this all pass. Much less risky too. Me… or Rias or Akeno… all of us could have reacted very violently to his guidance. That could have been really bad for him.
Koneko nodded her agreement.
"And remember, Issei didn't just hurt us and abandon us. He didn't just get angry and punish us." She shook her head. "He took great pains to talk to us, to try to get on the same page. He wanted to see what was going on in our minds before he did anything rash. Then he made sure we knew why he was disciplining us…and maybe most importantly…"
Akeno paused and returned to Koneko's bed. She leaned close and tilted Koneko's chin up so that their eyes met. "Most importantly, after he embarrassed us and put us through a great deal of pain… he held us, he comforted us, protected us. He forgave us, Koneko-chan. That's the difference between revenge and discipline. Anyone can lash out when someone wrongs them. That is what takes true strength. That is what makes a trustworthy man."
Koneko readily assented with an emphatic nod.
"And that's why I'm so crazy about him." Akeno added. "I'd do almost anything to be with him. I… I lost my head for a bit." She whispered. "Listen, I don't expect you to forgive me, so I won't ask. But there is one more thing I want to ask you to do for me."
Koneko felt strange. On the one hand, Akeno had been her idol, someone she strove to be like, someone she respected and loved. On the other hand, she had carelessly and perilously blundered in her analysis of Issei. Not only that, she had stooped so low as to spy on them and then even shared that private moment with Rias too.
Do I care what she wants anymore? I don't even know. When she warned me about Issei that may have been just her caring about Rias… and me. Just a mistake. And maybe when she spied on us, she wanted to make sure I was okay… that Issei didn't go too far. That was a mistake too. Though a big one. Issei told me I made a big mistake too...'but not an unforgiveable one.' I should at least hear her out.
Akeno grew nervous when Koneko didn't respond, but steeled herself waiting.
Finally Koneko asked, "What is it?" in a tone that made it clear she hadn't agreed to anything yet.
Last chance to back out. I could tell Issei she declined…
"Tonight…. At bedtime. Issei is going to give me another spanking…" She announced.
Koneko looked at her in surprise. "But you said he forgave you…"
"He did. But that first spanking was for spying on you two… and for sharing your private affairs with Rias… this one… this one is for misleading you." Akeno blushed softly.
"Oh." Koneko answered not sure what to say. "Do you want me to ask him for mercy? Not to punish you?" she asked slowly unsure where this was going and highly unsure if she would grant such a selfish request.
"No, no!" Akeno quickly interjected. "No, there's no getting out of this. I have to face the music. I've earned it, and I wouldn't want to disappoint Issei or you by asking something so shameful." She shook her head disgusted as though it were beneath her. "What I want to ask you…" She requested slowly. "Is… will you please… witness…it?"
"What!?" Koneko asked shocked. "You want me to watch?!" Her mouth hung open dumbfounded. "I-I'd be just as bad as you spying! I can't do that!"
"No, it's not at all the same! Listen, this would be… something everyone knows about. Well, I mean, I'm aware of it. Issei too. He said… said it would be okay."
Koneko shook her head. "You don't need to do that. I don't need to see it. It's private… it's… good enough that it happens." She said quickly.
Akeno sighed. "It's… another part of my punishment," She admitted. "Issei said that since I wronged you and watched you and couldn't keep it a secret…it's only fair that you have the same option. You could witness my punishment… and if…if you wanted… you could humiliate me in front of all our friends…" She gulped wondering if Koneko would do exactly that. "And… well if you say no, Issei might suspect that I convinced you not to come…" she looked a little frightened at the possibility. I never considered that she might refuse…
Issei is really angry at her… Koneko realized. He's not letting her off easy. Not just punishing her either, it's psychological punishment too. Forcing her to admit her sins to me. Forcing her to ask me to watch while knowing that I could destroy her reputation at a whim if I accept. I hope I never do anything that pushes Issei to go that far!
She took a deep breath and nodded.
"I'll witness it."
"Ten O'clock, Issei's room." Akeno stated neutrally.
She stood and bowed.
"Thank you… and… I'm sorry…"
Then she swept out of the room.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone